MPs from across the political spectrum joined a key Westminster debate yesterday. The debate aimed to discuss the huge barriers facing cancer patients trying to access treatment, and propose workable solutions to turnaround the pre and post-pandemic decline of UK cancer treatment.
Just days after taking on the cancer portfolio, Health Minister for Health and Secondary Care Will Quince responded to evidence of huge shortcomings in the country’s cancer services. Mr Quince agreed to meetings with Selaine Saxby MP, Tim Farron MP and Grahame Morris MP, chair and vice-chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Radiotherapy (APPGRT), and local ICBs to discuss better patient outcomes.
Led by Selaine Saxby MP, and chaired by Maria Miller MP, the debate highlighted:
- At least 3.4million UK residents would have to travel longer than 45minutes to access radiotherapy treatment, the maximum recommended travel time
- That a 200m investment would replace all out-of-date radiotherapy machines and help 50,000 cancer patients every year
- Government failure to tackle the worst waiting times for treatment on record
- Poorer life expectancies and health spans for rural residents
- The incredible work being undertaken by a small workforce of 5,500 radiotherapy professionals treating 100k plus patients each year under huge pressure
- Ageing radiotherapy machines that need to be replaced for the benefit of cancer patients
- The UK’s poor performance alongside comparative countries, that invest 12% of cancer budgets in radiotherapy over the UK’s 5% allocation
Graeme Morris MP referenced his own experiences as a cancer survivor who benefitted from radiotherapy services: while Tim Farron MP spoke movingly of driving for hours accompanying his own constituents to treatment due to a lack of local services, and the draining and dangerous impact of long travel times.
All speakers commended the success of radiotherapy as a treatment – used in four out of every ten cures – and many noted its cost-effective nature compared to pharmaceutical treatments. Tim Farron MP said the annual UK budget for just one cancer drug, Herceptin, was equivalent to two-thirds of the entire annual budget for radiotherapy treatment.
MP Margaret Ferrier cited Radiotherapy UK research that showed a £4million investment in AL radiotherapy treatment would immediately improve workforce capacity and reduce waiting times.
Professor Pat Price, chair of Radiotherapy UK, was thanked several times for her unswerving dedication to improving life for cancer patients, and her ongoing support for the APPGRT.
While speakers across all parties were in agreement that a change in direction was needed, Shadow Public Health Minister Andrew Gwynne went one step further and stated: “The next Labour government will work tirelessly to improve access to radiotherapy.”
